Backpacking Checklist

| Day Hiking | Backpacking | Tent Camping |

Going backpacking is often something that most people plan for a long time before it actually happens. If you're like me, at one time or another you've arrived at your destination only to find that you've forgotten some important item that could either ruin your trip or make you waste money buying it again. That's why this page exists.

This page is open to anyone that finds it useful. Help me make these lists more complete by letting me know if I forgot something using our feedback page.

General High Country Suggestions

• Don't bring condiments in the plastic pouches you find at restaurants because they'll explode at high altitudes. I've done this and it ain't pretty.
• Don't bring foods that are hard to cook or cleanup because they'll be HARDER to cook and cleanup in the mountains.
• Altitude sickness sometimes strikes in the form of headaches or a rapid heartbeat. Remember that sugar is brain food and aspirin thins the blood.

General Packing Concepts

• Weight, size, and collapsibility should always be considered when choosing what to bring on a backpacking trip.
• Use collapsible tubs and smaller containers for backpacking so that you only bring what you need.
• You'd do yourself a favor by not buying the freeze-dried food found in sporting goods stores. It usually doesn't taste very good and it's always more expensive than something you could by in a normal grocery store.
• Try not to bring more than one of an item that can be easily shared with a backing partner. Items like first aid kits, matches, bug repellant, aspirin, floss, toothpaste, string, hand shovels, and cameras are good examples of things that can be shared.

How to Use the Lists

Don't be afraid. You're not expected to bring everything you see on these lists. These lists should & only serve to remind you to think about bringing something. For example, if you see 'eggs' but don't like eggs, then don't bring eggs. Bring something you like instead. Get it?